Passage series

Passage XIII (San Diego to San Francisco) has been selected for inclusion in Maryland Federation of Art's American Landscapes: Scenes from the Americas exhibition.

My long-running Passage series is a reflection on trips through storms, over mountains, deserts and water. Once twilight falls, humanity is represented by points of light that emanate from our homes, headlights and other anthropogenic beacons.

Robin Street-Morris. Passage XIII (San Diego to San Francisco). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14” x 20” (36 x 51cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage I (Detroit to St. Louis). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 11” x 14” (28 x 36cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage II. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 9" x 13" (22 x 33cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage III. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 12” x 19” (30 x 48cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage IV. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 12” x 20” (30 x 51cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage V. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14” x 20” (36 x 51cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage VI. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14” x 20” (36 x 51cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage VII. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 15” x 19” (38 x 42cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage VIII. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 16" x 20" (41 x 51cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage IX (Victoria to Vancouver). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 12" x 19" (30 x 48cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage X (Homeward Through Mojave Wilderness). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 15" x 19" (38 x 48cm).

Robin Street-Morris. Passage XI (Comet with Venus). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 15" x 20" (38 x 51cm).

In Memory of Sea Turtles (Heron Island)

Heron Island, located in Queensland, Australia, is a dream come true for a birder, snorkeler and lover of sea turtles. One is also immersed in nature's brutality. Turtle hatchlings must brave a silver gull and blacktip reef shark gauntlet. My eyes watered more than once.

Robin Street-Morris. In Memory of Sea Turtles (Heron Island). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13.5” x 21” (34 x 53cm).

Prints may be purchased by tapping on the image of the art. Please contact me directly if you’re interested in owning the original painting.

Waiting for rain

This is a piece I'd wanted to make since visiting San Miguel Island, part of Channel Island National Park. The dark creatures you see are dormant giant coreopsis that spring to life in late winter after some rain and produce bright yellow blossoms. I encountered a spring on my way up to this spot that is surely visited by San Miguel island foxes. It's a dream of mine to camp nearby and linger so I can see this subspecies of Urocyon littoralis, the last I'll be able to "catch" not having Navy clearance.

It's still funny to me in a not at all ha ha sort of way that some think southern California doesn't have seasons. It most definitely does. I'm always thinking about what's coming in and going out of bloom in the parks away from our airports and patches of green dominated by grass and palms. The "no seasons” mentality is a challenge because many who've moved here from elsewhere are sometimes quick to think that a native plant that looks tired during the summer is dead. Nope, they're just dormant in many cases. Would a Midwesterner chop down a maple in the winter just because it doesn't have green leaves? For the most part, no.

Waiting for Rain. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Egression

This is my latest mixed media painting that I'm pleased enough with to share here. I've noted that it's in my best interest to keep my inspirations to myself for relatability’s sake. That way viewers and potential patrons can see whatever places in my landscapes they wish. But… I have no business sense and I like to prattle on about my favorite places, so I will add that I made this piece after returning from Santa Cruz Island, part of Channel Islands National Park.

Robin Street-Morris. Egression. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Please click or tap on the image of the painting if you’d like to purchase a print.

Chaparral Sunset

My latest mixed media painting was inspired by my love of our dwindling chaparral here in southern California due to development. It's far from being my first and likely won't be my last. I often head up to Del Mar Mesa Preserve to appreciate the sunsets while surrounded by a sea of native foliage that’s habitat for local wildlife.

Please click on the image of it below if you’re interested in purchasing a print or send me a message if you’re interested in the original. Living artists such as myself appreciate your patronage.

—Robin Street-Morris

Robin Street-Morris. Chaparral Sunset. 2020. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 15" x 21" (38 x 53cm).

Incoming Fog and Comet NEOWISE

…is my latest mixed media painting inspired by our recent visitor that has captivated me and many others for weeks. I was up night after night trying to catch the comet over Black Mountain from our yard, but the fog repeatedly sent me back to bed disappointed. Finally, I saw at around 3AM that it was clear and headed out back to enjoy and photograph the peaceful view. Around 5AM fog began to curl around the base of the mountain. A few minutes later I could barely make out anything past our fence.

Robin Street-Morris. Incoming Fog with Comet NEOWISE [C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)]. 2020. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

(Please click on the image if you’re interested in purchasing a print.)

Unrelated, here’s another bloomer I’ve been home to enjoy this month because of the pandemic rather than traveling. Like the Epiphyllum hookeri I mentioned recently, each one of these giant, night-fragrant blossoms opens after dark and closes by dawn. I know this plant as Cereus peruvianus ‘Monstrosus’. This cutting was gifted to me several years ago when I met up with some patrons in California who discovered my art online when I lived in Detroit. Plant presents are hard to top in my book.

Canyon Sunrise

My latest mixed media painting is both energetic and apocalyptic in feel.

Canyon Sunrise. 2020. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13" x 19" (33 x 48cm).

Dolphins with Bioluminescence and Anthropogenic Starlight

My latest mixed media painting is the third I’ve made in response to San Diego’s 2020 red tide event that lit up our beaches. There were a few moments enjoyed during multiple visits to appreciate this phenomenon late at night when few others were around when I thought, yeah, I have to make a painting inspired by that. Dolphins, sea birds and California sea lions making big splashes in the water resulted in the bioluminescent glow emitted by Lingulodinium polyedra, a dinoflagellate species. In this dreamscape rooted in reality, I’ve shown the light pollution trapped by the marine layer in contrast to the subdued glow of nature. It’s dark over Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve to the right of the composition and the open ocean to the far left due to humanity’s more limited physical presence in these places.

Dolphins with Bioluminescence and Anthropogenic Starlight. 2020. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 20" (36 x 51cm).

Paintings inspired by Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Del Mar Mesa Preserve

I thought it was worth showcasing part of my ever-growing body of landscape art that celebrates views from the chaparral-covered mesas, hillsides and riparian corridors of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Del Mar Mesa Preserve. These are unique and beautiful habitats that are becoming increasingly rare in San Diego County as shortsighted developers continue their attempts to level them.

These mixed media pieces were made by combining professional, transparent watercolor pigments and powdered soft pastels of the highest quality on 300lb Arches hot or cold press paper to imbue them with an ethereal, dream-like quality.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon XVII. 2019. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 15" x 19" (38 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve I. Watercolor and pastel on 300lb hot press paper.
14" x 19.75" (36 x 50cm).

Chaparral Path To Black Mountain I. Watercolor and pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 12" x 18" (31 x 46cm).

Afterglow. Watercolor and pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Crepuscule (Los Peñasquitos Canyon XIV)". Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon VI. Watercolor and pastel on 300lb cold press paper.
14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon VII (Approaching Storm). Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13" x 19" (33 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon with Black Mountain III. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 20" (36 x 51cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon VIII (the Swallows Return). Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13" x 19" (33 x 48cm).

Last Light with Moonrise over Iron Mountain. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 53cm

Los Peñasquitos Canyon IV. Watercolor and pastel on 300lb hot press paper.
12" x 16" (31 x 41cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon XI. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 13" x 19" (33 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon XIII (Coastal Fog at Dawn). Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Chaparral Path to Black Mountain II. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper.
15" x 19" (38 x 48cm).

Coastal Preserve with Invasive Mustard Plant (Lopez Canyon I). Watercolor and pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 15" x 19" (38 x 48cm).

Departure (Crows at Dawn). Watercolor and soft pastel on 140lb cold press paper. 13" x 19" (33 x 48cm).

Asterism over Black Mountain. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 21" (36 x 53cm).

Bank of Passing Clouds. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 15" x 20" (38 x 51cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve XII (Walking with Bats and Owls). Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon IX. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13" x 20" (33 x 51cm).

Westbound at Dawn. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 20" (36 x 51cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon XV. Watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 20" (36 x 51cm).

Crepuscule II. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13" x 19" (33 x 48cm).

Waxing Moon with Chaparral and Power Lines. Watercolor and pastel on 300lb hot press paper.
8" x 16" (20 x 41cm).

Winter Storm (Mammatus Clouds over Black Mountain). Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Los Peñasquitos Canyon XVI. Transparent watercolor and powdered soft pastel on 300lb hot press paper. 14" x 20" (36 x 51cm).

Three birds

Two of these pieces are mixed media paintings, one a photograph. All are inspired by birds I’ve met recently while continuing to explore nearby Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve here in San Diego, California. Prints can be purchased by clicking on the individual images.

Walking Among Barn Owls. 2018. Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 20" (36 x 48cm).

Raven with Torrey Pine Branch and Cold Moon. 2019. Transparent watercolor on 300lb cold press paper. 14" x 19" (36 x 48cm).

Great Horned Owl with Winter Moon II. 2018. Digital photograph.